UFU president William Irvine on his County Armagh farm. Picture: Cliff Donaldson
The Ulster Farmers’ Union is urging livestock farmers across Northern Ireland to be extremely vigilant following the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in a herd of farmed water buffalo in Germany.
NI and the Republic of Ireland have now restricted imports from the disease control zone around Brandenburg including cattle, sheep and pigs, and all products of animal origin, to safeguard the island. Britain have suspended cattle, pigs and sheep imports from Germany entirely. As NI falls under EU Animal Health Law, imports can only be restricted from disease control areas.
UFU president William Irvine said, “Everyone within the NI industry is extremely concerned by the news that FMD has been confirmed in Germany. It’s an awful blow for farmers across the country.
We are all too well aware of the devastation this disease can cause having hit our region just over twenty years ago and almost bringing NI to a standstill. Therefore, it’s absolutely critical that the UK and Ireland agricultural departments, DAERA, DEFRA and DAFM, ensure and maintain increased vigilance at borders/ports.
“While it’s vital that every farmer strengthens their biosecurity and is aware and extremely vigilant for signs of FMD, reporting any suspicions of infection to their local vet, they can only do so much. The first port of call must be intensifying biosecurity at key access points into the island of Ireland and Britian, to stop this disease from reaching a local herd.
“I also urge caution regarding transportation and the need for lorries to be disinfected. Many travel from NI into ROI/Britian and return to the North, and we need to ensure that all possible corridors for infection are shut down.”
